Top 5 Indian bowlers with most wickets against Australia in test cricket

Two Indian bowlers have taken over 100 wickets against Australia in test cricket.

Over the years, there have been several notable test cricket matches between Australia and India. With a spate of legendary players playing on both sides, these teams have produced some of the most thrilling test matches.  

In the longest form of the game, the India vs Australia rivalry has become at par with the historic Ashes rivalry thanks in large part to these great individuals.

Speaking about the bowlers, regardless of how many runs your batsmen have scored, you cannot win test matches if your bowlers do not take 20 wickets. Over the years, several Indian bowlers have excelled in test cricket against Australia, helping India record some famous wins.

We take a look at the top five highest wicket-takers from the Indian team against Australia in tests.

Top five Indian bowlers with the most wickets against Australia in test cricket:

5. Kapil Dev- 79 wickets

Former India captain Kapil Dev is regarded as the greatest all-rounder India produced. Dev played 20 tests against Australia from 1979 to 1992 and picked 79 wickets at an average of 25.35.

His best bowling figures in an innings were 8/106 and in a test are 8/109. This performance came in the first test of the 1985-86 series in Adelaide. His amazing show with the ball restricted the strong Allan Border-led side to just 381 runs.

4. Ravindra Jadeja- 89 wickets

Ravindra Jadeja has been a thorn in the Australian team’s side for the past decade. He has performed extremely well for India both in India and in Australia as well.

Coming to his record against Australia in tests with the ball, Jadeja has played 17 tests and taken 89 wickets. His best bowling performance has been 7/42 and his best in a match is 10/110. The 7/42 came in the 2023 series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.

In just 12.1 overs, Jadeja picked seven wickets, that helped India bowl out Australia for 113 in reply to their first innings total of 262 runs. Australia had scored 263 in their first innings when Jadeja took three wickets.

3. Harbhajan Singh- 95 wickets

Indian spin legend Harbhajan Singh has 95 wickets to his name against Australia in test cricket. The off-former spinner had made his test debut against Australia in 1998 and continued to trouble them with the ball throughout his career.

No one can forget Harbhajan’s performance in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series when he single-handedly devastated the Australians with 32 wickets in just three tests. In his career, he played 18 tests against Australia and picked up 95 wickets with best figures in an innings of 8/84 and best match figures of 15/217.

Harbhajan Singh also became the first Indian to take a test hat-trick in the Kolkata test against Australia.

2. Anil Kumble- 111 wickets

Anil Kumble, the highest test wicket-taker for India with 619 wickets, is at the second spot for most wickets by an Indian against Australia in tests. He has 111 wickets in just 20 matches against Australia. This includes 10 five-wicket hauls and two match 10-fors.

Kumble’s 62 wickets out of 111 came while playing in India and 49 in Australia. Kumble posed a serious threat to the well-prepared Australian batting order because of his exceptional ball control and ability to extract bounce. In the subcontinent, where the spinning conditions favored him, he was devastating.

His unforgettable spell of bowling came in the Sydney Cricket Ground when he took 8/141 during the fourth test of the 2003-04 Australia tour. He then took four more wickets to finish with 11 wickets in the test.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin- 114 wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin has taken the most wickets by an Indian bowler against Australia in test cricket. In 22 tests against Australia, Ashwin has 114 wickets with a best of 7/103, including seven five-wicket hauls and one match ten-for to his name.

At this home ground in Chennai, Ashwin put on an outstanding display against the Australians in February 2013, registering figures of 7/103 and 5/95.

Ashwin a decent record in Australia as well with 39 wickets to his name in 10 tests and best bowling figures of 4/55.

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